Handling Drills

If you have questions feel free to contact Joseph McCann at (405) 377-0912.

RockErin Retrievers - Handling Drills

Single T

A.    Introduction

This drill is run before force-to-pile.  Dog has check-cord attached to neck collar.  At RockErin, we identify 4 fundamental parts of the Single T that are taught sequentially to the dog;  these are

a.  L/R Back from cross-point

b.  L/R over from cross-point

c.  L/R over with L/R back from cross-point

d.  Option casting from dog stopped at cross-point

It is essential that the dog is competent in prerequisites of: Obedience training, collar conditioning, conditioned retrieve/force fetch, and the dog is also field happy.

B.    Objectives

a.  Teach basic back and over casts in presence of mild-moderate distractions.

b. Teach a conditioned response to whistle sit.

c.  Teach dog to understand indirect pressure when correcting for cast refusals.

C.    L/R Back Method

1.  Identify and retrieve bumper from back pile (pile C) of approximately 20 bumpers.

2.  From front-sit finish at crosspoint:

    a.  ALternate L/R back casts

    b.  Discard bumpers to a neutral spot (pile A)

    c.  Use fetch-back initially to cast dog, then just use back.  No direct pressure with back            command.

    d.  Use arm and voice to cast;  position of hand not critical but request that dog not move            until arm is almost/fully extended.

3.  From front-sit finish with side distraction throws

    a.  L/R back casts opposite to discard pile of retrieved bumper

    b.  Increase distance of stopping point form back pile (C) by having dog front-sit finish as            you move back towards to pile A.  Discard bupers to right or left of each of htese 2-3            stopping points.

4.  Cast refusals

    a.  Whistle sit immediately (sit must be enforced)

    b.  Whistle-sit; cast

    c.   Whistle-sit-nick-whistle; cast

    d.  Simplify

5.  Pick-up refusals

    a. Review force-fetch (walking fetch)

    b.  Ensure compliance to fetch command

6.  Escape (bolting)

    a.  Whistle-sit (stabilize); here with happy bumper and then continue task

    b.  here with indirect pressure using Electronic Collar (EC); providing dog a comparision

    c.  Escape should not occur here;  be very careful if this occurs

D.  L/R Over Method

1.  Identify and retrieve bumpers from back pile(C) of approximately 20 bumpers

2.  From front-sit finish at cross point

    a.  Run < 4 each L/R back casts with discard bumpers to piles B and D (side piles)

    b.  Throw bumper half-way to right over pile (pile D) and send dog with arm and right-fetch            or over-fetch.

   c.  Initially use fetch chained to right or over then quickly drop fetch.

    d.  Ensure compliance with retireve by repeating fetch as necessary.

    e.  Run < 4 casts to pile D with discard bumpers to neutral spot (pile A)

    f.  Repeat (b) to (e) for left over casts.

    g.  Run 2 casts to pile D (right over) with discard pumper to pile B then pile C.

    h. Run 2 casts to pile B (left over) with discard bumper to pile D then pile C.

    i.  Run 2 casts each of L/R back to pile C.

    j.  Take care of cast refusal and pick-up refusals as described above but these should not           be occurring at this juncture in the training program.

E.    L/R OVER WITH L/R BACK

1.  Identify and retrieve bumpers from backpile (C) of approximately 20 bumpers.

2.  From front-sit finish at crosspoint

    a. Run 4 casts each L/R back casts with discard bumpers to piles B and D

    b. Cast right over thendiscard bumper to that pile.

    c. Cast left ovre the discard bumper to that pile.

    d. Cast right back then discard bumper to right over pile.

    e. Cast left back then discard bumper to left over pile.

    f. Cast right over then discard bumper to that pile.

    g. Cast right back then discard bumper to left over pile.

    h. Cast left back then discard bumper to spot of your choice.

To be continued..........